Jeff McAnallen

This is the third in a series of articles profiling the 2014 inductees into the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame

BUTLER TWP — Jeff McAnallen knew where he wanted to end up.

Now he's there.

The 1990 Butler graduate and stellar offensive lineman who went on to play at the University of Tulsa will be inducted into the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame during the organization's annual banquet April 26 at the Butler Days Inn.

“Our high school football banquets used to be held there and I remember looking at all the pictures of Hall of Famers,” McAnallen said. “Athletes were there from Michigan State, Penn State ... I always thought it'd be cool to be part of a group like that.”

McAnallen was inducted into the Butler High School Athletic Hall of Fame in September.

He credits much of his success to Mark Farabee, the Golden Tornado's line coach in football and throwing coach in track and field during his high school athletic years. McAnallen threw the shot put and discus for Butler's WPIAL championship track teams.

“I was around Coach Farabee every fall and spring, and during weight room sessions,” McAnallen said. “He was such a competitor and at some point during football workouts, track practice or weight room time, he'd develop some type of competition for all of us.

“It was fun. He kept things fresh and he made us all better.”

McAnallen was a three-year starter at left tackle for Butler, missing only one game his sophomore year due to injury. Few sophomores ever saw ample playing time, let alone started, for the Tornado football team at that time.

“My goal as a sophomore was to letter,” McAnallen said. “There were 100 kids on the team, 30 seniors, 30 juniors, Division I and II college caliber athletes.

“We went through Oklahoma drills in practice and I was named a starter. I remember being in the huddle with eight seniors and two juniors ... I was proud of that.”

Tulsa's line coach, Mark Thomas, was a Penn State University and Elizabeth Forward High School graduate who recruited numerous players from the WPIAL.

If a top-level WPIAL player wasn't going to Penn State, Pitt, or West Virginia, “Coach Thomas was going after him,” McAnallen said.

“Here I was, going to college a thousand miles from home and there's like 15 WPIAL players on the team,” he added. “We had a Pennsylvania clique. Our parents liked it because they traveled to games together. My parents are friends with some of those people to this day.”

While Tulsa was the smallest Division I team in the country, McAnallen played on a Golden Hurricane team that defeated San Diego State, 28-17, in the Freedom Bowl.

Always with his eye on teaching, McAnallen got his degree in education and wound up serving as offensive and defensive line coach at North Hills High School for 10 years. The Indians reached the WPIAL semifinals three times and the title game once during his tenure.

He went on to become head football coach at Butler for three years. Now he serves as assistant athletic director and junior high football coach for his alma mater.

“I love it,” he said. “Once I realized I wasn't good enough to go to the NFL, I thought of Coach Farabee and how he built a career as a physical education teacher and coach.

“That's what I wanted to be.”

Tickets for the Hall of Fame banquet are available at www.bcshof.com, any Hall of Fame director, Moses Jewelers at the Clearview Mall, Bill's Beer Barn, Snack n' Pack, Parker Appliance in Chicora, Maddalon Jewelers in Zelienople or Saxonburg Drug